KABANATA 03

Maximo

Nakaupo ako dito sa likod ng malawak at magarang opisina ko, nakahilig sa komportableng silya habang nakatitig sa malaking litrato na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng aking mesa. It was a picture of Yna—my beautiful, sweet, innocent Yna. Nakangiti siya sa litratong ito, ang kanyang mga mata ay nagniningning sa tuwa. Ang litratong ito ay kuha ko noon nang hindi niya alam, noong minsang nakita ko siya sa parke habang naghihintay sa lalaking iyon—si Lucas.

Isang mapait na ngiti ang gumuhit sa aking mga labi habang hinahaplos ko ang kanyang imahe gamit ang dulo ng aking daliri.

"Everything is going exactly as planned, my love," bulong ko nang mahina, halos parang caress sa hangin. "Ngayon ay nasasaktan ka. Ngayon ay nagdurusa ka. Alam kong masakit, at alam kong akala mo ay katapusan na ng mundo mo. But trust me... this pain is necessary. Ito ang daan para makarating ka sa akin. Ito ang daan para maging akin ka."

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa malaking bintana na nakatanaw sa buong siyudad. Ang tanawin ay kahanga-hanga, punong-puno ng ilaw at buhay, pero wala sa mga ito ang mahalaga sa akin. The only thing that matters to me is her. Yna. She has been the only thing on my mind, day and night, for years now.

Nakilala ko siya bago pa dumating si Lucas sa buhay niya. Nakita ko kung gaano kabuti ang puso niya. Nakita ko kung paano siya magmahal nang buong-buo, tapat at walang pag-iimbot. At simula noon, alam ko na... siya ang babaeng para sa akin. Siya lang ang babaeng kayang kumpletuhin ang buhay ko. Siya lang ang gusto kong mahalin, alagaan, at ariin habambuhay.

Ngunit ang tadhana ay naging malupit noong una. Nakilala niya si Lucas Monteverde—ang mayaman, ang gwapo, ang lalaking akala mo ay perpekto. At sa isang iglap, naging mundo na niya ang lalaking iyon.

‘Mahal na mahal ko siya, Maximo,’ sabi niya sa akin noon, naalala ko pa nang malinaw ang bawat salitang binitawan niya. ‘Siya ang lahat sa akin.’

Ang mga salitang iyon ay parang lason sa aking sistema. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding galit at inggit. Bakit siya? Bakit si Lucas? Anong meron siya na wala ako? Wala siyang ginawa kundi yumaman habang si Yna ang nagtiis at naghirap kasama siya. At gayon pa man, ibinigay niya ang lahat sa lalaking iyon.

Pero hindi ako sumuko. Hindi ako pwedeng sumuko. I knew deep down... Lucas didn't deserve her. No one deserved her but me. At alam ko rin na hindi magtatagal ang kasiyahan nila. Alam kong may kahinaan ang relasyon nila—ang sobrang tiwala ni Yna at ang madaling paghuhusga ni Lucas.

So I did what I had to do. I played my cards perfectly.

I used my resources, my money, and my influence to weave a web that would trap her and blind him. It was easy. Napakadaling gamitin ang mga tao sa paligid. Napakadaling maglagay ng ebidensya, magpalsipikahin ang mga dokumento, at ilipat ang pondo mula sa kumpanya ni Lucas papunta sa mga account na nakapangalan kay Yna. I made sure every single trail led straight to her.

And just as I predicted... Lucas swallowed the bait hook, line, and sinker.

He didn't even think twice. Hindi man lang siya nagtanong, hindi man lang siya nakinig sa paliwanag ni Yna. Sa sandaling makita niya ang mga papeles, ang kanyang tiwala ay nawala agad at napalitan ng matinding poot.

‘You are nothing but a thief to me now.’

Narinig ko ang lahat. I had people inside his building, listening, reporting every single word. And when I heard him say those words to her—words that broke her heart into a million pieces—I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction mixed with rage.

How dare he speak to her like that? How dare he hurt the most precious being in this world? But at the same time... thank you, Lucas. Thank you for being the fool that you are. Thank you for pushing her away. Because every hurtful word he spoke, every tear she shed... it brought her closer to me.

Now she is broken. Now she is alone. Now she has nowhere else to go.

And who will be there to catch her when she falls? Who will be there to wipe her tears? Who will be there to tell her that she is innocent, that she is loved, that she matters?

Me. It will be me.

My phone buzzed on the table, at mabilis ko itong kinuha upang sagutin ang tawag. Ito ang aking tauhan na inutusan kong bantayan si Yna.

"Report," utos ko sa mababa at awtoritaryong boses.

"Sir, she is currently at the cheap boarding house you directed Mr. Monteverde to leave her. She’s inside her room, crying non-stop. She hasn't eaten anything since this afternoon. She looks... devastated, Sir," ulat ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

Isang malamig na ngiti ang gumuhit sa aking mga labi. Perfect. Everything is unfolding exactly as I envisioned it.

"Good. Stay close. Don't let anyone harm her, and don't let her out of your sight. She is precious cargo. I’m going to her now," sabi ko bago pinatay ang tawag.

Mabilis akong nagpalit ng damit—nagsuot ng simple ngunit maayos na kasuotan, hindi katulad ng karaniwang suot ko na nagpapakita ng aking yaman. I need to look humble, approachable... like a savior. I want her to see me as her only hope, her knight in shining armor.

Habang nagmamaneho ako papunta sa kinaroroonan niya, ang isip ko ay punong-puno ng mga plano. I know she hates the world right now. I know she thinks everyone has turned their back on her. And I will make sure she believes that I am the only one who cares.

I will tell her I believe her. I will tell her I know she could never do such a thing. I will tell her that I have been investigating and that I am sure someone is framing her. And I will offer her everything—money, lawyers, shelter, protection. I will promise her that I will clear her name, that I will fight for her, no matter what it takes.

And she will trust me. She will lean on me. She will depend on me completely.

And slowly... little by little... I will erase Lucas from her heart. I will erase every memory of him. I will make her realize that he was nothing but a mistake, a chapter in her life that needed to end so she could come to me.

She will learn to love me. She has no choice. Because in her eyes, I am the only good thing left in this cruel world.

I parked my car a few blocks away, ayaw kong magmukhang masyadong mayaman o nakakatakot sa paningin niya ngayon. Naglakad ako papasok sa masikip at madilim na pasilyo ng bahay-paupahan. Ang amoy ay masangsang at hindi kaaya-aya, pero hindi ko ito pinansin. Ang tanging mahalaga lang ay ang makita ko siya.

Huminto ako sa tapat ng kanyang pinto. Rinig na rinig ko ang mahina ngunit masakit na paghikbi mula sa loob. Ang bawat tunog ng kanyang pag-iyak ay parang musika sa aking pandinig—isang senyales na siya ay humihina, at oras na para pumasok ako sa buhay niya nang tuluyan.

I knocked softly.

"Yna? It’s me... Maximo," I called out, my voice sounding gentle, concerned, and warm—exactly the way I knew she needed to hear it. "I heard everything. I know what happened. Please... open the door. I’m here for you."

Tumigil saglit ang tunog ng kanyang pag-iyak. Narinig ko ang mahihinang hakbang papalapit sa pinto, at ilang sandali pa ay bumukas ito nang bahagya.

Her face appeared from the small gap, and my heart skipped a beat—both from love and triumph. Her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks were stained with dried tears, her hair was messy, and she looked so small, so fragile, so utterly broken.

But to me... she looked more beautiful than ever. Because now, she was finally within my reach.

"Maximo..." bulong niya, ang boses ay garalgal at punong-puno ng lungkot. "Paano mo nalaman kung nasaan ako? Bakit nandito ka?"

I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside, ignoring the poor condition of the room. I looked at her with deep, genuine emotion—well-practiced and perfectly executed.

"How could I not know, Yna? When you are the only person I care about in this world?" I said softly, reaching out to cup her face with my hands. She flinched slightly, but she didn't pull away. Good. "Narinig ko ang lahat ng balita. I heard the accusations... I heard what Lucas did... what he said to you. And I rushed here as fast as I could."

"You... you believe them too, don't you?" she whispered, tears starting to fall again. "Everyone does. Lucas does. Everyone thinks I’m a thief. I’m a criminal..."

I pulled her into my arms abruptly, hugging her tight, pressing her head against my chest so she could hear the steady rhythm of my heart—a rhythm that beats only for her.

"No, Yna. Never," I said fiercely, my voice vibrating with fake anger and real obsession. "I don't believe a single word of it. I know you. I know your heart. I know you would never, ever do something like that. You are the kindest, most honest person I know. And Lucas... he is a fool. He is blind and stupid for not seeing the truth. He didn't just steal your name... he stole your happiness, and for that, I will never forgive him."

She froze in my arms, then slowly, hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around my waist and cried against my chest—harder this time, letting out all the pain she had been holding in.

"Maximo..." she sobbed. "He hates me... He called me so many terrible things... He wants me in prison... I didn't do it, Maximo! I swear to God, I didn't do it!"

"Shhh... I know, baby, I know," I cooed, stroking her hair tenderly, kissing the top of her head. "I know you didn't. And I promise you... I will fix this. I will prove your innocence. I have the best lawyers, the best investigators. I have money, I have power... and I will use every single thing I have just to clear your name. I won't let him win. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

She pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes wide with confusion and hope. "Why? Why are you doing this for me? You have nothing to gain... Everyone else left... why are you still here?"

I looked deep into her eyes, letting my gaze show the intensity of my feelings—the obsession, the love, the hunger—disguised as pure devotion.

"Because I love you, Yna. I have always loved you. Long before Lucas came into the picture. And even when you chose him... I was always here, watching, waiting, hoping that one day you would see that he isn't the one for you. That I am the one who truly deserves you," I confessed, my voice low and intense. "I love you more than anything in this world. And seeing you suffer like this... it tears me apart. Just let me help you. Let me take care of you. Please... let me be the one to put your broken pieces back together."

She stared at me, speechless, tears still flowing freely, pero sa pagkakataong ito ay may ibang ningning sa kanyang mga mata. Hope. Gratitude. Trust.

She was falling right into my trap.

"Maximo..." she whispered, reaching up to touch my face. "I... I don't know what to say. You are the only one... the only one who believes me. The only one who treats me like I’m still a human being. Thank you... thank you so much."

"Don't thank me, my love," I said, capturing her hand and kissing her palm, never taking my eyes off hers. "Just let me be part of your life. Just let me protect you. From now on... you are my responsibility. You are under my care. Lucas Monteverde is nothing to you now. Forget him. He doesn't exist anymore. Only us. From this moment forward... it’s just you and me."

She nodded slowly, leaning her head against my chest again, accepting my comfort, accepting my protection.

"Yes... just you and me," she murmured weakly.

A dark, victorious smile spread across my face—hidden from her view as she buried her face against me.

Yes. Just you and me.

Lucas did his part perfectly. He broke her heart. He destroyed her trust in everyone. He made her world crumble.

And now... it is my turn.

I will be her savior. I will be her god. I will give her everything she needs, everything she wants—except the truth. She will never know that I am the reason for all her misery. She will never know that I am the one who framed her, the one who orchestrated her downfall just so I could pick up the pieces and make her mine forever.

I will manipulate every piece of evidence. I will lead the investigation wherever I want it to go—making sure it never points to me, and eventually, pointing it to someone else just to make her believe I solved the mystery. I will ruin Lucas completely in her eyes, making sure she hates him as much as I do.

And in the end... she will love me. She will marry me. She will bear my children. She will belong to me—body, heart, mind, and soul.

I tightened my arms around her possessively, pressing her body flush against mine. She is mine. She has always been mine. And no one, not even Lucas Monteverde or the truth itself, will ever take her away from me.

"You're safe now, Yna," I whispered against her hair, my voice dripping with dark satisfaction and twisted love. "I have you. And I’m never letting you go. Never."

As she cried herself out in my arms, completely trusting the man who destroyed her life, I looked at the dark window and smiled.

The game is over for Lucas. And the real game begins now—where I am the King, and she is my precious, beloved Queen... trapped forever in my golden cage of lies.